Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes Company announced that it has entered into an alliance relationship with EuroDirect in which Group 1 will be the exclusive reseller of EuroDirect's CAMEO geodemographic classification data in the US and Canada. The agreement provides for the integration of EuroDirect's CAMEO USA & Canada databases into Group 1's Centrus Demographics suite. With the agreement, Centrus Demographics batch, Web and Client/Server users will have access to the most current and powerful information for consumer classification to better profile and target the American and Canadian consumer markets.

Announcements

NAVTEQ Corporation reported record revenue for the quarter ended September 25, 2005.

Revenue in the quarter rose 26% over the third quarter of 2004 to $123.0 million. Operating income grew 38% over the year-ago period to $30.4 million. Net income in the quarter rose to $101.1 million, compared to $13.6 million in the prior year's third quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter grew to $1.07, compared to $0.15 in the prior year's third quarter. See
press release for more details.

NAVTEQ also announced that its expansive digital map data for North America will be available in the new HP iPAQ hw6500 series Mobile Messenger. With NAVTEQ premium data 'giving it direction', HP's iPAQ hw6500 Mobile Messenger with integrated GPS receiver(1) offers users route guidance nationwide from one destination to another.

In last week's GISWeekly, there was a typo in the hyperlink to the Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean Tsunami Response Map Viewer, which should read
http://www.pdc.org/tsunami . This was corrected in last week's issue.

Appointments

PCI Geomatics has recently announced several leadership appointments within the Sales department, stemming from its expansion into the image-centric solutions market and the ongoing commitment to its suite of Geomatica geospatial products.

Brad Schmidt, formerly the department's senior director, is now Vice President of Sales.
Michael Agnes has been promoted to Director of Software Sales.
Trevor Taylor has accepted the responsibility of Director of Strategic Sales, an expanded role to his previous position as Director of GeoCapacity Solutions.
Cary Lichtman has joined the Sales team as Account Executive and has responsibility of software and solution sales in the Eastern United States.

Wins

NASA announced that Diamond Data Systems, Inc. (DDS) was awarded a Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) contract for development of a new and innovative method to leverage LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) terrain & elevation mapping data. There are many uses for LIDAR data including disaster prevention through flood hazard mapping and planning, emergency management, weather studies and high-resolution mapping and analysis.

Leica Geosystems announced that it has won an order for 30 GPS 1230 surveying systems from Wolf Survey and Mapping, a division of Destiny Resources Services Partnership in Western Canada.

Training

Definiens announced that all of its eCognition training courses will be available in the U.S. starting this year. The first courses are scheduled for December 5 - 6 and December 7 - 8. The 2006 course offerings will be announced soon.

ObjectFX(R) Corporation announced the general availability of FleetFX(TM), a software solution for visually monitoring transportation operations. FleetFX is designed to give executives, managers other personnel greater visibility into their operations to help them make better business decisions. The FleetFX solution is based on SpatialFX(R), the company's patented Java/J2EE spatial enterprise software platform.

NAVTEQ released a new data set, specifically tailored for the trucking industry, that provides truck access restriction and recommended truck route information linked to the NAVTEQ(R) map of North America. This data enables transportation and logistics solution providers that leverage NAVTEQ maps to enhance routing solutions, multi-vehicle optimization applications and truck navigation products. The first version of this data set is available with the Q3 2005 release of the NAVTEQ map of North America.

MapText, Inc. has made several modifications to SmartLabel, the company's integrated text placement software for MapInfo Professional.

MapText's release of SmartLabel generated great interest and intense feedback from MapInfo users. Based on this user feedback, MapText implemented several modifications to the software. These include automatically substituting fonts that are not currently supported, by Arial, improved window management, and a progress bar.

East View Cartographic (EVC) announced the availability of a custom map collection intended to support the international community's efforts to control the spread of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus. The bird flu map collection is available in paper and digital versions in a variety of the most commonly used scales. The authoritative package includes coverage of Southeast Asian countries most directly affected including Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Other worldwide and regional collections including Eastern Europe, Russia, and China are also available. Reliable geospatial reference information in the form of maps and GIS data is considered an essential tool in support of cooperative efforts to control the spread of the disease.

Around the Web

Open Source Movement Gets a Lobby by Chris Preimesberger, Eweek, October 16, 2005 -- The open source software industry gained a new government lobby Friday with the launch of the National Center for Open Source Policy and Research

Upcoming Events

Trimble Dimensions 2005
Date: October 23 - 26, 2005
Place: The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, NV USA
The theme of Trimble Dimensions 2005 is Move Your Business Forward with an emphasis on improving productivity and lowering costs through the application of positioning, wireless and software technologies. The conference will feature a wide range of programs including presentations on the underlying technologies, sessions on applying technology to real world problems, introductory and advanced product training, and practical tips and techniques to help organizations grow their business and maximize return on investment (ROI). Many of the application sessions will utilize Trimble users to explain the practical use of technology in surveying, civil engineering, highway and heavy construction, site preparation, and construction vehicle fleet management, as well as other emerging applications.

Pecora 16
Date: October 23 - 27, 2005
Place: Sioux Falls, SD USA
"Global Priorities in Land Remote Sensing" Co-Organized by American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing The Pecora Conference series was established by the U.S. Geological Survey an NASA in the 1970s as a means of sharing ideas and experiences resulting from the use of remote sensed data. This year's conference will offer a program that honors this tradition of focusing on applications of satellite and other remotely sensed data to study, monitor, and manage the Earth's land surface while recognizing other priorities related to applying the science and technology of land remote sensing and ensuring its stable future.

Trimble Dimensions 2005
Date: October 23 - 26, 2005
Place: The Mirage Las Vegas, NV USA
For the Surveying, Engineering and Construction Professional Trimble has been at the forefront of some of the most exciting and practical positioning technology applications of our time, leading the way with technical advancements and innovations that provide tangible results and measurable value. Reflecting this spirit, the Trimble Dimensions 2005 User Conference is designed to deliver lasting benefits to surveyors, civil engineering and construction professionals. A slate of prominent speakers will delve into the hottest issues surrounding positioning technology to enhance your business.